Dry mouth is one of the most common oral side-effects seen from allergy medicine, antihistamines, and other medications.

Unfortunately, dry mouth can also cause halitosis (bad breath). Luckily, in this newsletter we are also sharing ways to beat that too!

The overall goal with flushing away dry mouth is to increase the flow of saliva.  Some simple ways to do this is to ensure that you are brushing twice a day, especially before bedtime, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.

And here are a few other ways to beat dry mouth:

1. Drink lots of water. It’s a common solution to so many problems, it almost sounds cliché, but we can’t stress this enough. Every time you exhale water escapes your body, so even with little physical activity, your body is using that H20. Aim to drink 8 glass of 8oz each per day.

2. Breathe from your nose. Breathing out of your mouth, especially while you sleep, is one of the primary reasons for prolonged dry mouth.  Make a conscious effort to close your mouth at night, and breathe from your nose, so you won’t wake up parched!

3. Eat water logged snacks such as celery or grapes, or foods with liquids like soups or stews. You can also add other liquids to your foods by using sauces, gravies, and broths.

4. Cut down on coffee and alcohol, both of which are diuretics and can dehydrate you.

5. Check your medications, as many meds have dry mouth as a side effect. You can discuss this with us or your primary doctor.

If you don’t treat dry mouth, it can lead to more serious oral issues. Tooth decay occurs commonly with dry mouth, be sure to understand what the underlying cause is of your symptoms and take the necessary steps to improve it.

If all else fails, we are happy to discuss your particular issues and may be able to recommend an artificial saliva product, which is available in a rinse or spray.

Our office has chosen to stop placement of this material since 2000. Removal of amalgam fillings should be done under rubber dam with high-speed suction. For patients who do not show allergic reactions to these materials, it is considered unethical to remove amalgam fillings unless they are leaking and defective.

These metal fillings have been shown to cause cracking in teeth due to the difference in the rate of expansion and contractions as compared to enamel. These fillings are not bonded to the tooth but are wedged into the tooth preparation. Overtime these fillings leak and open between the tooth and filling causing discoloration and recurrent decay around them.

With improved strength and durability, combined with superior esthetics and biocompatibility, composite resins are a first choice for many smaller to medium size fillings. These fillings closely match the tooth structure, are minimally invasive, and can be bonded to the tooth for the most natural results.

Teeth stay in place with proper contact to adjacent and opposing teeth. Once a tooth is lost, the adjacent teeth begin to shift and drift, and place excessive forces on those adjacent teeth now carrying the chewing forces.

The options available for replacement of missing teeth range from removable partials, to fixed bridges, to dental implants. A fixed bridge is made by cutting down adjacent teeth, covering them with crowns, and with a false tooth or pontic between them. This tends to make a one-tooth problem now a three-tooth problem. Fixed bridges, like most dental restorations, have a finite lifespan, usually lasting 7-12 years. With chewing pressure and lateral forces, the cement lines around the neck of the teeth will eventually wash out and these teeth can decay again. This can cause more trauma to the adjacent teeth over a lifetime with subsequent need for replacement of the bridges.

Bridges can be used for a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth, as long as there are teeth on either side of the space to anchor and support it. The longer the span of missing teeth, the higher the risk and shorter lifespan of the bridge.

Another option is dental implants. Dental implants are titanium posts placed into the bone, replacing the root of a missing tooth. These can be used as a single tooth replacement, or used as anchors to support longer span bridges or dentures. Benefits of dental implants include maintenance of the jawbone, prevention of bone loss, long-term stability and proper chewing function. If you are missing a tooth, ask us for options available for your particular situation.

Cracks can occur from a variety of causes, including years of bruxism or grinding, accidents, trauma, chewing ice, or from large metal restorations. Metal fillings expand and contract at a different rate than enamel, and frequently cause cracks in the teeth. Symptoms can include cold-hot discomfort, as well as pain when chewing on the tooth, as it causes movement of the cusps.

Sometimes cracks are difficult to diagnose even with examination of x-rays. Treatment varies with the severity of the crack, but often placing a full crown over the tooth will add support. This support helps to spread the chewing forces over the entire surface of the tooth, protecting it from full fracture and the need for extraction.

Once a tooth has fractured, options for correction include the possible placement of a crown, root canal therapy, if the nerve is involved with subsequent placement of a buildup, a crown, or possible extraction of the tooth.

Early detection of cracks can save you time, money, and the unfortunate loss of natural teeth.

I could not let this monumental occasion pass without shouting to everyone I know that I love my new tooth!

Those of you who know me in person are well aware of my tooth situation, but those who only know me on-line are probably not aware that I have been missing a tooth since July 3, 2011.  Yes, I had an implant started on July 3.  The process has been long and drawn out with a dentist change in the middle.  For those of you wondering, there is little pain with this process.  As a matter of fact, at the beginning I was entirely able to manage it with ibuprofen.  I didn’t even fill the prescription of vic adan (sp?).  The absolute worst part of my implant has been this gaping hole in the front of my mouth (lower front tooth).  You see, after they drill the screw into your jaw, you have to wait at least 3 months for things to heal before they can put a crown on.  Yes, I had a little temporary retainer sort of thing to fill in the space, but it was so cumbersome.

With age, it is so nice to be able to process these types of situations with logic, but I have to admit that having that hole did a number on my self-esteem.  Every time I looked in the mirror there was at least a small level of deflation and sometimes it was a large level.  Since my work puts me in front of a lot of people, I had to deal with my own issues around that as well.  Sometimes I explained it, sometimes I forgot to explain it.  Almost always, I would forget to leave the house with my temporary filler.  My husband affectionately referred to me as his little hillbilly.  We laughed and joked about it a lot too.

After two failed re-visits with the dentist (an hour from my house) who put the implant in, I was miraculously put in one of those situations that became divine intervention.  I was attending one of my networking groups (Camp Connections, part of Camp Experience – a not to miss annual outing for women but that will be another post) and a woman with the most beautiful teeth introduced herself as a Dentist – Dr. Lee Weisbard (can you hear the angels singing in the background).  I checked Dr. Lee out for a few months, met her office manager Dana and observed at these monthly meetings.  I finally took the plunge and scheduled an appointment to discuss my mouth.

I think it’s important to mention that for the last 10 years, I had been going to the same dental practice network.  I wasn’t entirely dissatisfied with them, but I did have some recurring issues with my mouth, small nuisances that never seemed to get fixed.  I really didn’t think anything of it and truthfully, I even referred some people there.

When I entered Dr. Lee’s offices, I immediately sensed a difference.  I wasn’t sure if it was just Dana’s sunny personality at the front desk, but I did start to get the feeling that I was going to be taken care of.    Dr. Lee spent over an hour with me.  She looked in my mouth, she asked me questions, she explained things, she took pictures.  She mapped out a rough plan for me.  I learned a ton about my dental health that day.  I learned things that were going on in my mouth that had never been explained to me, things that were going to effect me in the near term and long term.  Things that if taken care of soon, would cost me less now than a correction or implant or crown later on.  This plan made sense, this plan could be broken into manageable chunks so that I could make consistent progress and not break the bank all at once.  This plan had an end too.  You see, Dr. Lee’s goal was to fix me up with what was essential and necessary and then put me on a regular cleaning program and made it clear that her goal was to not have to do a ton more work on me.  I had never approached dental care in this way.  I’ve had some major work done and it always seems to be done in a reactionary mode.  I feel pain, I get it fixed.  My tooth breaks, I get an implant.  I felt Dr. Lee was predicting problems where we could prevent the pain and be proactive.  There is nothing like chronic mouth/tooth pain.  She convinced me that I do not have to live my life that way.  It never even occurred to me that it could be different.

I switched my dental care to Dr. Lee.  In my first visit, she did what she needed to do to get my crown made and made some minor adjustments in my mouth that entirely changed my bite and immediately made a difference in the way my mouth felt.  She changed out a silver filling that was loose, cleaned out the resulting “bad stuff” and replaced it with something better.  No one ever told me that the tooth could even become a problem.  My crown turned out to be a particular challenge for Dr. Lee and one she took on with enthusiasm.  She truly loves what she does.  You see, the original dentist drilled my implant in crooked, on an angle.  Dr. Lee had to work with the labs and sent back a pretty good tooth before she even fit me because my situation was unique.  She wanted it right.  She didn’t complain, she explained the delay and I knew she had my best interest at heart.  I asked (she would not have brought it up otherwise) if it would cost more money and she firmly stated that it was not my problem.

I had my new tooth put in yesterday and I couldn’t be happier.  Once again, the service and attention to detail from Dr. Lee and her staff were impressive.  All I can say is that she gets it.  She is a master and I truly believe that what I am paying to have done now is saving me measures in the long term.  It’s saving me money, it’s saving me time, it’s saving me health-wise, it’s saving me.  She also armed me with the information I needed to make a choice about my dental care.  There are things I don’t need to worry about immediately and there are things I never knew about that could effect me in the short term.  Thank you Dr. Lee.  Thank you for offering service in addition to dental work.

I have my tooth!  and a new dentist!

You’ve been brushing your teeth for your whole life, but have you been doing it properly?

1. On the outer and inner surfaces, brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle in short half-tooth-wide strokes against the gum line.
2. On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth.
3. On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up and down strokes with toe of brush.
4. Brush the tongue in a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food particles and freshen your mouth.

Remember to spend at least 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth, adding up to two minutes each time you brush.  (As seen on www.crest.com)

Individuals with unhealthy gums are more likely to have heart disease, as reported by Newcastle University Dental School. “Inflamed gums are linked to high levels of C-reactive protein, a possible biomarker of heart disease, in the body. Dental cleaning can actually reduce levels of C-reactive protein and also improve the health of blood vessels,” says medical journalist Susan Aldridge, PhD.

“More women than men (59% vs. 48%, respectively) understand that when they take care of their teeth, they are taking care of their hearts; yet women are much less likely than men (17% vs. 21%, respectively) to put most of their energy into good oral care routines over other lifestyle modifications, like exercise and diet (Cardio Smart, 2010).”

People are generally unaware that heart and oral health link up. With more research being conducted on the connection between the two, we hope it gives you the boost to fall in love with your mouth year after year.

Sadly, many people don’t realize when they’ve slipped into a bad breath rut. It’s rare to find someone who is willing to have the uncomfortable conversation and inform another person of their bad breath.

The best indicator of bad breath is to simply take a spoon and scrape off the debris on the very back portion of your tongue. Then see if you can detect an odor. Simply cupping your hands together and smelling may not be a good indicator as we typically get used to our own smells. However, this test should give you an accurate representation of your breath.

Whether your bad breath (otherwise known as halitosis) is stemming from medications, or other health problems, be sure to avoid the embarrassment of being called out or avoided by your peers or coworkers by following these tips.

1. Avoid breath mints and mouthwashes that contain alcohol. They could actually be making things worse.

2. Chew on parsley, this leafy green vegetable contains chlorophyll and is a natural breath freshener.

3. Baking soda, peppermint or tea tree oil can also be used on your toothbrush for another natural alternative.

4. Use a tongue scraper to remove particles from the back of your tongue, which is a source of problems for bad breath.

5. Brushing twice daily and flossing daily to remove bacteria from your mouth.

6. Drink lots of water, or chew sugarless gum as this increases the salivary flow and helps flush bad bacteria.

7.  Rule out rare causes of bad breath by visiting your dentist.

8.  Avoid garlic, onions, and other odor causing foods.

9. Don’t smoke.

10. Have your teeth cleaned and examined at our office.

Teeth grinding can cause serious problems, such as fracturing and lose of teeth, causing the need for root canals, crowns, bridges, or dental implants.

A mouth guard can protect your teeth, but if stress is the cause be sure to ask your doctor about some additional remedies for stress-relief.

Some other tips for teeth grinding:

1. Avoid alcohol and caffeine

2. Do not chew on gum, pencils, ice or anything that is not food.

3. Relax during the day, if you notice clenching – release your muscles.

4. Limit hard foods, which put excessive pressure on your joints – such as nuts and hard candies.

5. Use anit-inflammatory medications such as IB Profin, to relieve symptoms if necessary.

According to the San Francisco Department of Health there isn’t any proof that bottled water is more pure or healthy than tap water. Research has found it hard to prove whether one type is better than the other. Water is regulated by different sources, yet those regulations are almost identical for the two sources.

While, bottled water may seem to have more benefits on the outset – from those pristine mountain images on the cover to the promises on the label, there are particular costs to consider that have defining facts and statistics to back them up.

First, the price of bottled water is 300 times more expensive than the use of tap water. Second, bottled water comes with costs for the environment – from shipment, emissions, and trash – when not properly recycled.  On the flip side, others say it’s all about taste – and the taste of their tap water just doesn’t compare to what you can get in a bottle.

Let’s now talk about how this relates to your teeth. Fluoride comes with many benefits, including the prevention of tooth decay. Unfortunately, bottled waters often lack sufficient amounts of fluoride. So how can you get more fluoride if you are a bottled water drinker? Easy, according to the Centers for Disease Control, first brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, take a fluoride supplement, or a mouth rinse containing fluoride.